About Motlav
Motlav is a stratovolcano rising to 411 meters (1,348 feet) in Vanuatu's Southwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions. No historical eruptions have been recorded, though the volcano is classified based on geological evidence of past activity.
Geography & Climate
Motlav is located in Vanuatu, within the Vanuatu Volcanic Arc of the broader Southwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions. Situated at 13.67° S, 167.67° E in the Southern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. At just 411 meters above sea level, Motlav is a relatively low-elevation volcanic feature. Despite its modest height, it remains an active geological formation with the same underlying magmatic processes as its taller counterparts. The volcanic landform is characterized as a composite, which describes the physical shape and structure of the volcanic edifice as observed from the surface.
Geological Context
Motlav sits in a subduction zone, where one tectonic plate dives beneath another, creating intense heat and pressure that generates magma. Subduction zones are responsible for many of the world's most explosive volcanoes and deadliest eruptions. For communities in Vanuatu near Motlav, this tectonic setting means the volcano is capable of producing powerful explosive eruptions, pyroclastic flows, and lahars that can threaten populated areas within tens of kilometers of the summit. The dominant rock type is basalt / picro-basalt, a dark, fine-grained volcanic rock that forms from rapidly cooling, low-viscosity lava. Basaltic eruptions tend to be less explosive and produce fluid lava flows that can travel long distances. While less immediately dangerous than explosive eruptions, basaltic lava flows can destroy structures and infrastructure in their path, and volcanic gases released during these eruptions can affect air quality over a wide area.
GVP Reference Summary
The elongated island of Motlav, also referred to as Mota Lava, is comprised of at least five Pleistocene basaltic stratovolcanoes capped by two well-preserved late-Pleistocene to Holocene pyroclastic cones, Tuntog and Vetnam. Tuntog is a largely pyroclastic composite cone at the SW end of the island with a 500-m-wide summit crater. Vetman, in the center of the island, is a pyroclastic cone truncated by a summit crater that is breached on the southern side. The 411-m high point of Motlav is a remnant of older volcanics along the central ridge of the 12-km-long, NE-SW-trending island.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Motlav.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Motlav
Is Motlav an active volcano?+
Motlav is classified as active based on credible evidence of past eruptions. Although its last known eruption was in prehistoric times, volcanologists consider it capable of erupting again.
How high is Motlav?+
Motlav has a summit elevation of 411 meters (1,348 feet) above sea level. At 411 meters, it is a relatively low-elevation volcano.
What type of volcano is Motlav?+
Motlav is classified as a Stratovolcano. Stratovolcanoes (also called composite volcanoes) are steep, conical volcanoes built up by many layers of hardened lava, tephra, and volcanic ash. They are among the most common and dangerous types, known for explosive eruptions.
Where is Motlav located?+
Motlav is located in Vanuatu, in the Southwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Vanuatu Volcanic Arc. Its exact coordinates are -13.670° latitude, 167.670° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Motlav?+
Motlav can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. Vanuatu may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
